College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

Optimizing nitrogen and Phosphorus Management for beard wheat (Triticum Aestivum ) Yield and Nutrient use efficiency in Nitisols of Wadla District, North Wollo, Ethiopia

2025-07-31T07:17:54Z

Optimizing nitrogen and Phosphorus Management for beard wheat (Triticum Aestivum ) Yield and Nutrient use efficiency in Nitisols of Wadla District, North Wollo, Ethiopia Kassa Sisay Optimizing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Management for Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency in Nitisols of Wadla District, North Wollo, Ethiopia Kassa Sisay, 1 Yihenew G.Selassie 2 , and Birru Yitaferu 3 1. Amhara Agricultural Research Institute, Sirinka agricultural Research Center 2. Stichting Wageningen Research Ethiopia (SWR-E) Wageningen University and Research 3. Senior Soil Scientist and Researcher Coordinator, CapSha Fertilizer DST Project Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) Soil fertility depletion, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, is a major constraint to wheat productivity in Ethiopia, influencing crop yields and food security. A field experiment was conducted to determine the optimum nitrogen and phosphorus rates for wheat yield, nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, and economic returns in Wadla District, Ethiopia during the 2023/2024 cropping season. The experiment was arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatment was comprised of four N levels (46, 92, 138, and 184 kg ha⁻¹) and four P 2 O 5 levels (23, 46, 69, and 92 kg ha⁻¹). Yield and yield component parameters, plant sample for uptake, and use efficiency were collected. The collected data were analyzed using SAS (version 9.0), and mean separation was carried out using the Duncan Multiple Range Test at a 5% significance level. The results showed that the nutrient levels significantly influenced wheat growth, yield components, nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, and economic returns. The highest performance economically yields and yield-related parameters were recorded with the combined application of 138 kg N ha⁻¹ and 69 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹, resulting in biomass and grain yields of 7.8 t ha⁻¹ and 3770 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. The maximum biological grain (3,840.0 kg ha -1 ) and biomass (7.91 tons ha-1) yields were recorded at 138 kg N ha⁻¹ with 92 kg P 2 O 5 ha⁻¹. Total nitrogen uptake was high for 138 kg N ha⁻¹ (82.52 kg N ha⁻¹), while phosphorus uptake was high for 69 kg P 2 O 5 ha⁻¹ (18.42 kg P ha⁻¹), with uptake efficiency decreasing at higher rates. Agronomic use efficiency, partial factor productivity, and recovery efficiency also reached their highest values at lowest to moderate N and P levels. Partial budget analysis indicates that the applications of 138 kg N ha⁻¹ with 69 kg P 2 O 5 ha⁻¹ gave the highest net benefit 258,954.2 ETB ha⁻¹ with marginal ret of return 5825.3 %. Therefore, the application of 138 kg N ha⁻¹ and 69 kg P 2 O 5 ha⁻¹ is recommended for maximizing wheat yield, economic returns and also enhancing nutrient uptake and nutrient efficiency in Wadla and similar agroecological areas. Further research should be done on the long-term residual effect of P and nutrient efficiency through regular soil testing and monitoring to enhance nutrient uptake while minimizing environmental footprints.

Effects of Weeding time and frequancy on growth and yield of head Cabbage (Brassica Oleracea L.) in Burie district, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

2025-07-31T07:03:30Z

Effects of Weeding time and frequancy on growth and yield of head Cabbage (Brassica Oleracea L.) in Burie district, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Melkamsew Berihun Head Cabbage is an important vegetable crop for food security as well as to generate income for subsistence farmers. Weeds cause yield losses of head cabbage, which is estimated to be about 25%. A field experiment was therefore conducted to determine the appropriate weeding time and frequency on head cabbage at Burie district, West Gojjam, Amhara Region under irrigation during the 2022/23 irrigation season.. Treatments consisted of weeding time at 15 day, 22 day,29 day,36 day, 15 & 22 days,15 & 29 days,15 & 36 days,22 & 29 days,22 & 36 days,29 & 36 days, 15, 22 & 29 days, 15, 22 & 36 days, 15, 29 & 36 days and22, 29 & 36 days after planting and a treatment without weeding. Treatments were laid out in RCBD design with three replications. The phenological, growth, yield related and weed parameters were collected and analyzed using SAS software (version 9.1). The analysis of variance showed that weeding frequency and time of weeding significantly influenced most of the tested parameters of head cabbage. Two times weeding at 22 and 36 days performed well in most of the tested parameters of heed cabbage, such as number of leaves per plant, head diameter, 75% head maturity, marketable yield, and total yield, compared to other tested treatments. Higher cabbage yield (11.3 t ha ) was produced on tretament that weeded two times at 22 and 36 days . Three times weeding at 22, 29, and 36 days scored low dry weed biomass and weed density. Marginal rate of return is high on (9109.9%) treatments that weeded two times of weeding at 22 and 36 days compared with other treatments. Therefore, it is concluded that head cabbage weeded two times at 22 and 36 day is critical period of time weed managment. Since this conclusion is based on a single experiment, it needs further research over location and season to give strong recommendation.

Responses of hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) Varieties to Blended Npsb Fertilizer at Koga Irrigation Scheme, Northwestern, Ethiopia

2025-07-29T08:38:29Z

Responses of hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) Varieties to Blended Npsb Fertilizer at Koga Irrigation Scheme, Northwestern, Ethiopia Banchamlak Desalgn Hot pepper is one of the most important spice and vegetable crops cultivated by smallholder farmers in Amhara region, particularly in the North Mecha district. However, the yield of the crop is low due to several production constraints, with the limited availability of improved varieties and soil nutrient deficiencies being among the major challenges. Hence, this experiment was carried out during the 2023 irrigation season in North Mecha, at Koga irrigation scheme. The aim was to identify highyielding varieties along with determining the optimum amount of blended NPSB fertilizer. The treatments consisted of four levels of blended NPSB fertilizer (0, 192, 242, and 292 kg ha ) and four hot pepper varieties (Vigro, Amando, Serenade, and Marekofana) arranged in 4x4 factorial combination in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data on growth, yield, and quality parameters of the crops were collected and analyzed by using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) version 9.4. The results clearly showed that hot pepper growth, yield, and quality were significantly influenced by varieties and NPSB fertilizer applied. Key parameters such as plant height, number of branches, leaf area index, green pod weight, number of pods per plant, marketable, unmarketable, and total green pod yields were influenced by the main and interaction effect of varieties and NPSB fertilizer. While days to the first harvest and all quality parameters were influenced solely by the main effects of both factors. Notably, significantly the highest marketable green pod yields (17.99 and 17.88 t ha -1 ) were obtained from Vigro and Amando varieties treated with 242 kg ha -1 NPSB respectively. However, the lowest marketable yield (4.32 t ha -1 )) was recorded from Marekofana with control. Based on the partial budget analysis, variety Vigro coupled with 242 kg ha -1 NPSB gave the highest net benefit of 657,946.5 birr ha and a marginal rate of return of 8,958.76%. The second acceptable marginal rate of return (5222.5%) was observed from open pollinated Marekofana variety with 242 kg ha -1 NPSB. As a result, based on the result of this experiment, the treatment combination of Vigro with 242 kg ha -1 NPSB is recommended for resource-full and commercial farms while Marekofana with 242 kg ha -1 NPSB can be advised for resource-poor farmers in North Mecha District and other areas with similar agro-ecological conditions.

Assessment of Forage Seed Sources, Storage Methods, and Quality analysis in East Belessa, Central Gondar, Ethiopia

2025-07-29T08:24:56Z

Assessment of Forage Seed Sources, Storage Methods, and Quality analysis in East Belessa, Central Gondar, Ethiopia Betelhem Atena Both the required amount and quality of forage seed are a key input for ensuring higher forage productivity. Access to certified seeds of improved forage varieties remains a challenge for smallholder farmers. This is particularly a bottleneck in areas where drought is common. This study was conducted with the objectives to assess the forage seed sources and storage methods, and to examine the effect of forage seed sources and storage methods on the quality of the forage seed. The study was carried out in 2024 in the East Belessa district of the Central Gonder zone of the Amhara region. The study included both household surveys, monitoring of forage seed storage methods, and laboratory experiments on the sampled forage seeds. Survey data was collected from 120 farmers using a structured questionnaire and leveraged from key informant interviews. Cowpea sample seeds were collected from forage seed sources and storage methods from 54 farmers while mung bean sample seeds were from both forage seed sources and storage methods from 42 farmers. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were employed for the survey and laboratory works, respectively. R-package and SPSS (v27.0) software were employed for data analysis. Only 20% and 24% of the respondents accessed the forage seeds from the Bureau of Agriculture (zonal/woreda office) and research centers, respectively. On the other hand, nearly 66% of them got the seed from informal sources, including their own saved seed, farmers, relatives, and neighbors. Farmers don’t access sesbania and pigeon pea seeds from formal sources. The laboratory analysis shows that there are significant variations (p<0.05) between formal and informal seed sources both for cowpea and mung bean for seed purity, seed germination, thousand seed weight, seedling dry weight, speed of germination, and vigour index two. The variations between cowpea formal and informal sources were significant for seedling shoot length and vigour index one, but not for mung bean. On the other hand, the difference between the formal and informal sources for seedling root length, both for cowpea and mung bean is not significant. Concerning the different storage conditions for cowpea and mung bean seeds, the study indicates non-significant variations between storage conditions for most of the quality parameters. This shows, that in the study area, the quality of cowpea and mung bean seed is not significantly influenced by storage facilities. Actively seek and use high-quality seed sources, including certified seed formal sources from research centers and agricultural offices, and adopt modern storage techniques (e.g., hermetic storage) to enhance seed viability, and train farmers on best practices for seed storage to minimize deterioration. Furthermore, policymakers assist farmers in accessing improved seed varieties through partnerships with NGOs and private enterprises.